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Monday, January 04, 2016

Where Is Your Bookmark? (01/05/2016)

I have just started reading Katarina Bivald's TheReaders of Broken Wheel Recommend. The novel opens with a letter from Amy in Iowa to her pen pan and fellow reader Sara in Sweden. I am skipping over the letter that acts more as a preface to the first chapter for today's first paragraph offering. The cover will take you to Goodreads where you can read more about the book, if interested.

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.
It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

The strange woman standing on Hope's main street was so ordinary it was almost scandalous. A thin, plain figure dressed in an autumn coat much too gray and warm for the time of year, a backpack laying on the ground by her feet, an enormous suitcase resting against one of her legs. Those who happened to witness her arrival couldn't help feeling it was inconsiderate for someone to care so little about their appearance. As though this woman was not the slightest bit interested in making a good impression on them.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from
A Daily Rhythm hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two (2 or 3) "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

She didn't seem to care at all that she was in Hope. It was as if she had just landed there, with book and luggage and uncombed hair, and might just as well have been in any other town in the world. She was standing on one of the most beautiful streets in Cedar County, maybe even the prettiest in east central Iowa, but the only thing she had eyes for was her book. ~ Teaser from 1%

and

"What're you going to do there?""Read."He shook his head."As a holiday," she explained. ~ Teaser from 2%

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

I am a still barely into the novel as you can see, and I could not help but share these two teasers along with the opening paragraph. You can guess why, given the reading references. The woman in the opening and teasers is a woman after my own heart. You would likely find me reading in a similar situation too. And, oh, how I would love a reading vacation!

What are you reading at the moment? Is it anything you would recommend?

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is Top Ten Resolutions I Have for 2016, which I am combining with last week's topic: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016. This is in essence my list of Top Ten Books Most Anticipated Releases I Plan to Read in the First Half of 2016. (I am making sure not to include any of the 2016 debut titles I listed previously.)

1.

Death Sits Down for Dinner by Tessa Arlen ~ The second in the Lady Montfort series, set in Edwardian London.

2.

The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian ~ Chris Bohjalian does not shy away from writing about difficult issues, This particular novel deals with human trafficking.

3.

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase ~ I believe I first heard about this one thanks to one of my fellow Top Ten participants. A Gothic Manor, broken hearts, secrets . . .

4.

The Rain Sparrow by Linda Goodnight ~ I admit it was the title that first drew me to this novel. A combination of romance and mystery, this is the story of a thriller writer running from his past and an inn keeper who is afraid of her own shadow.

5.

Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon ~ I am so excited about this one! A mystery full with secrets galore, and an interesting cast of characters--all set on the Hindenburg in 1937.

6.

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz ~ A woman flees after her husband's death, changing identities, trying to outrun her past.

7.

What Lies Between Us by Nayomi Munaweera ~ From Sri Lanka to America, growing up under the weight of a past which won't let go. This sounds like it will be quite the emotional read.

8.

The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag ~ I enjoy this authors writing and am curious about her upcoming title which features witches--secrets, of course--and maybe even love.

9.

Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson ~ I will likely read anything Jennifer Robson writes, and this novel set in the 1920's Paris is no different.

10.

The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss ~ I found the title and cover of this cozy too enticing too pass up. Murder and ghosts? I couldn't resist that either.

Are you looking forward to reading any new releases in the next few months?

Your list looks great, Wendy! New releases always excite me, but on the other hand I'm also hoping I'd get to read some of the books on my TBR list. They've been sitting on my shelves for years, lol. Still, new or old it doesn't matter as long as we enjoy reading them. :-)

Melody - Thank you! Technically these are all on my TBR pile waiting to be read. ;-) Just not sitting on my shelves for years--a month or two so far is more like it. All of these are books I am eager to read though and will work towards my year's challenges.

Aaah I just finished 'Broken Wheel' over Christmas and absolutely loved it! It's all about books and all the little references are amazing! I hope you love it :D Also, the cover for 'Black Rabbit Hall' is stunning, I might have to take some suggestions from your list. Ooh I'm definitely intrigued as well. I love the beginning, the way it already tells you something bad has happened but then lets the reader linger for a while. I should probably also go trawling through my Kindle to see what gems I have hidden there! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great week!My Tuesday PostJuli @ Universe in Words

Juli - That's good news for me! I like to hear someone loved a book I am reading. :-) I love the cover for "Black Rabbit Hall" too. I sure hope the inside lives up to the outside. I hope you have a great week too!

I totally love your teasers. Yes, that would be as well and I do plan for lots of reading on vacations. Such vivid covers on your anticipated books. Several are ones I've heard about and want to try. I have a copy of Black Rabbit Hall (from the UK) and I'm very interested in the book set on the Hindenburg. I could go on and on, but I won't. LOL

Kathy - I remember it was all the talk around that time last year--during BEA. I meant to read it sooner, but it got lost on my Kindle. I am glad to be reading it now. I'm curious to know which book you are reading for your book club!

I finally got around to reading Jennifer Robson's Somewhere in France last year after seeing it everywhere, lol. I hope to get around to her other books at some point. Great list, happy reading this 2016!

I love the intro for The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. I had not heard of this one. I must live in a book title black hole. So many new to me books. I would read this one, and several from your top ten list. Thanks.

The title of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is enough to make me want to read the story. I'm intrigued by the "strange woman" in the opening, especially since my Kindle always goes on vacation with me.Thank you for commenting on my blog today.Sandy @ TEXAS TWANG

Oh, I could identify with the character in your excerpts...who among us doesn't sometimes forget everything else in order to keep reading? I do want to know more of her story...so this one is going on my list.

Of your Top Ten, I loved The Guest Room...and have The Passenger, ready to read within the next month.

Laurel-Rain - I can see you liking this one if you read it. I hope so anyway. :-)

I am glad to hear you loved The Guest Room. I've been hearing great things about it--although trying to avoid any reviews until after I read it. The Passenger sounds a bit different from Lutz's other books, but I am looking forward to it.

Your top ten is amazing. I have the Rain Sparrow and can't wait to read it and the Paranormal Museum looks awesome. I pretty much want to read all of the ones on your list! I'm curious about The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. I love the teasers and anything with reading in the title is hard to resist.

Katherine - Too many good sounding books . . . I look forward to hearing what you think of Rain Sparrow. I haven't read the first book in the series, and so am hoping this second will stand alone well. It sounded like it from the description, at least.

I have a feeling The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend will be popular among us readers. :-)

Sarah - I am glad to hear you enjoyed The Guest Room. I had hoped for it to be my next book, but for some reason picked up Broken Wheel instead. I can't wait to read Flight of Dreams. I hope we both enjoy it.

I recently finished The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, and enjoyed it very much, so I hope you are as well! And your TTT list is full of titles I want to check out and at least one I already had on my radar (The Witches of Cambridge. I loved The Dress Shop of Dreams.)

Lark - I'm glad to hear it! I'm still not terribly far into it, but I hope to devote more time to it tonight. I haven't read The Dress Shop of Dreams (one of my backlog review books I need to get to), but I loved her first book immensely.

I read The Readers of Broken Wheel last year and I don't know if I was expecting too much but while I found parts of it very sweet, I wasn't blown away by it. I hope you'll enjoy it and looking forward to your review! Definitely curious about some of the new books that are coming out soon! High on my list is Moonlight Over Paris. Sounds dreamy!

Iliana - I'm really enjoying The Readers of Broken Wheel so far. I had forgotten what it was about--it'd been awhile since I had read the synopsis, and so I've been pleasantly surprised. Hopefully I will continue to like it.

Reading as a holiday, yes, I'd read on! I'm reading Wild at the moment and would recommend it. I haven't a clue about new releases at the moment - a few from catalogs but that's it. I love the cover of What Lies Beneath, though, and you've reminded me I wanted to read Robson a while back.

Charlie - When I was growing up and we'd go on camping trips, I would spend hours reading--my dad and I would have a contest to see who could read the most. I'm sure there are a number of new releases I know nothing about but would be excited to read.

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At the age of five, Literary Feline (aka Wendy) was diagnosed as a fabulavore. Due to the low story content of movies and television, she has required a steady supply of books to provide her sustenance. She currently resides in California with her loving husband, adorable daughter, and two affectionate and sassy cats. Literary Feline has broadened her nutritional sources by reviewing books. Please note: Literary Feline is not a bibliovore. She's not eating the books for goodness' sake.